Thankful...

I am thankful to have made it through our first bout with teething.
I am thankful for a healthy baby.
I am thankful for those around me who support me.
I am thankful for the milk I make.
I am thankful that I HAVE BREASTS, even if they aren't "fully functional." There are moms out there who have lost their breasts to cancer.
Really puts the whole "insufficient glandular tissue" issue into perspective.

I am thankful for what glandular tissue I have!

Nursing pics (with SNS)

Nursing in bed with our SNS.

Time to go from FAT to FIT!

I am tired of being fat. I've always been afraid to exert myself too much while nursing, because I'm afraid of a dip in my milk supply. I know I'll lose the weight without trying once I wean, but I don't want the reason I wean to be because I'm tired of being over-weight. So, I'm starting small, using Wii Fit at least 30 minutes a day, at least 4 times a week. I'm currently on day 2. Yesterday, I did 30 minutes of the Wii Fit and then took a walk with my daughters. So far today, I've done 30 minutes, and I think I'll do some more since the day is still young. Dieting is going to be hard while taking domperidone, because it makes me hungry all the time. But I need to stop eating so much JUNK. I know that'll help.

Beginning Measurements (7/31/2011)
Starting weight: 191.5 lbs
Starting waist: 40 inches
Starting hips: 44 inches
Starting thighs: 27 inches (thickest part)
Starting arms: 13.5 inches

I haven't written much lately, because not much is going on.
We're still using the SNS, and she takes about the same amount. We're still dealing with the occasional biting incident, but, she's not teething at the moment, so it's not too often.
We dealt with a cascade of illness at my house the last week, with first my son, then my older daughter, then my younger daughter, then me getting a fever for 2 days each.
It was NOT fun nursing while sick, it took so much out of me. And the night I felt the worst, Lola woke me up twice an hour to nurse. But, I am better now.

First time in the Gulf.

Sandy treat from a salty teat!

OUCH!

Although adorable, baby teeth are weapons. Lola just drew blood by unlatching quickly while nipping at my nipple. Yowch. WHY did she have to start getting teeth so early? I'm terrified now. What's going to happen when she gets her top teeth? Will we make it to a year, and if so, will I still have nipples?

Give-away!

Enter Give-away Here!

This is an excellent, hand-made blizzard fleece diaper cover. It's soft and fluffy and it BREATHES. A perfect diaper cover for diaper rash when going naked isn't an option! Great for hanging around the house (I haven't tried it out and about.) The blizzard fleece repels liquid, but under pressure, such as in a car seat, bouncer, bumbo, urine CAN soak through. However, I've been using it all day today, and despite several soaked pre-folds inside, we haven't had a single leak or soak-through.

RULES & REGULATIONS:

*Giveaway ends Monday August 8th at 8:00 am EST
*Contest is Open to Anyone on the Continental USA
*Winner will receive one diaper cover in Mod'N'Natural's choice of fabric
*Fill Out the Google Doc Form Above
*Winner Will Be Chosen with Random.org after 8:00 am EST on August 8th, 2011

I was thinking about how lucky Lola and I really are. Sure, we may deal with low milk supply, but we haven't dealt with thrush, mastitis, or painfully plugged ducts.(I did have one small plugged duct early on, but massage took care of it very quickly, and it was never painful.)
She has been nipping at bit with her new tooth, but I know she's teething on the next tooth, too, and it really isn't very painful.


I know this is a blog about my lactation journey, but I'm also a mom on a cloth diaper journey:
Stay tuned for a Peekaboo Baby blizzard fleece diaper cover review and give-away!

Well-baby check-up.

Lola had her 4 month well-baby check-up today, and I'll admit, I was nervous for the weigh-in. Nervous that she wouldn't have gained enough since we only use the SNS now.
BUT... She's gaining perfectly! 15.8 lbs (90th percentile for weight) and 26.3 inches long (98th percentile for height!) and her doctor was THRILLED that she's using the SNS! Yay for us!
What a great confirmation that we're doing what works for us!

4 months of nursing!

Happy 4 months, Lola! I love you more every day.

Lola cut her first tooth on Monday! I didn't even know she was teething (I guess the excessive drooling and gnawing on her hands should have tipped me off.)!
Haven't had much time to write lately. Lola's getting bigger and more active every day.

Sitting unsupported, briefly, with mommy ready to catch her.

Sleepy girl at the South Florida Museum.

She's growing up so fast!

My little nursling, almost 4 months old.

I have a love/hate relationship with the SNS. I HATE when it leaks on me, I HATE when I don't have it positioned perfectly and Lola gets upset that she isn't getting anything out of it, I HATE that I can't just put her to breast as soon as she shows signs of hunger, and I have to fumble with tubes and tape while listening to my baby cry, and I hate that instead of having a leisurely nurse and snooze, and I have to worry about getting up and cleaning it, risking waking up a peacefully sleeping babe.
But I love that it keeps her at the breast, and gives us a more normal nursing relationship. And I love it for providing the nourishment my baby needs to grow and thrive. And those two loves balance out the hate.
It's working for us. I'm not obsessing over numbers anymore. I don't know how many ounces of formula she's taking per day because it doesn't matter anymore, as long as she's happy and healthy. And she is happy and healthy. And that's all that matters.

This morning, as I snuggled and nursed my baby, we looked into each other's eyes, and I felt such a wave of love.
Yes, the SNS can be a pain in the butt, but it's worth it.
I love how my daughter tells me she wants to nurse. When we're sitting up, she'll turn and nuzzle me. When we're laying down next to each other, she'll roll over and open her mouth.

Big bro cracking up lil' sis.

She's getting so big. She's so alert and active. Trying so hard to roll from back to tummy, but she can only get 3/4 of the way over. She loves her siblings, and they love her. Today, her big brother had her laughing.
She's growing too fast now. Blink, and she'll be walking! Slow down, little one.

Well, yesterday wasn't another 4 ounce day, but that's okay with me. As long as she is healthy and getting enough to eat, I am happy.